Jiří Suttnar

Influence of citrate and EDTA anticoagulants on plasma malondialdehyde concentrations estimated by high-performance liquid chromatography.

Estimation of lipid peroxidation through MDA formation measured by assaying thiobarbituric acid (TBA) reactive products separated by HPLC remains the method of choice to study the development of oxidative stress in blood plasma. In this report we describe the influence of citrate and EDTA anticoagulants used for blood collection on estimation of MDA concentrations using HPLC analysis of MDA-TBA adducts. We analyzed a group of 40 blood donors (21 men and 19 women), median age 27 years, range 19-48 years. The mean MDA concentration in citrate plasma was 1.43+/-0.51 micromol/l (range: 0.61-2.57 micromol/l) and in EDTA plasma 0.36+/-0.10 micromol/l (range: 0.13-0.63 micromol/l). There was a significant difference in MDA mean concentration that we attribute to different antioxidant properties of anticoagulants used for blood collection. Consistency in the choice of anticoagulant is clearly extremely important.

Separation used for purification of recombinant proteins

The purification of molecules from recombinant cells may be strongly influenced by the molecular biology of gene isolation and expression. At the beginning of the process there may be a demand for information on the minute amounts of proteins and thus for ever increasingly sensitive techniques. Purification of recombinant proteins can differ from conventional purifications in several ways, depending on the solubility of the protein, occurrence in inclusion bodies, creation of fusion proteins with tags that enable simpler purification. Sometimes a (re)naturation step is required to get a bioactive protein. On the other hand, the techniques used in separation are essentially the same as for purification from the natural source and environment.

Proteome changes in platelets activated by arachidonic acid, collagen, and thrombin

BackgroundPlatelets are small anucleated blood particles that play a key role in the control of bleeding. Platelets need to be activated to perform their functions and participate in hemostasis. The process of activation is accompanied by vast protein reorganization and posttranslational modifications. The goal of this study was to identify changes in proteins in platelets activated by different agonists. Platelets were activated by three different agonists - arachidonic acid, collagen, and thrombin. 2D SDS-PAGE (pI 4-7) was used to separate platelet proteins. Proteomes of activated and resting platelets were compared with each other by Progenesis SameSpots statistical software; and proteins were identified by nanoLC-MS/MS.Results190 spots were found to be significantly different. Of these, 180 spots were successfully identified and correspond to 144 different proteins. Five proteins were found that had not previously been identified in platelets: protein CDV3 homolog, protein ETHE1, protein LZIC, FGFR1 oncogene partner 2, and guanine nucleotide-binding protein subunit beta-5. Using spot expression profile analysis, we found two proteins (WD repeat-containing protein 1 and mitochondrial glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase) that may be part of thrombin specific activation or signal transduction pathway(s).ConclusionsOur results, characterizing the differences within proteins in both activated (by various agonists) and resting platelets, can thus contribute to the basic knowledge of platelets and to the understanding of the function and development of new antiplatelet drugs.

Antioxidants change platelet responses to various stimulating events

The role of platelets in hemostasis may be influenced by alteration of the platelet redox state-the presence of antioxidants and the formation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. We investigated the effects of two antioxidants, resveratrol and trolox, on platelet activation. Trolox and resveratrol inhibited aggregation of washed platelets and platelet-rich plasma activated by ADP, collagen, and thrombin receptor-activating peptide. Resveratrol was a more effective agent in reducing platelet static and dynamic adhesion in comparison with trolox. The antioxidant capacity of resveratrol was, however, the same as that of trolox. After incubation of platelets with antioxidants, the resveratrol intraplatelet concentration was about five times lower than the intracellular concentration of trolox. Although both antioxidants comparably lowered hydroxyl radical and malondialdehyde production in platelets stimulated with collagen, TxB(2) levels were decreased by resveratrol much more effectively than by trolox. Cyclooxygenase 1 was inhibited by resveratrol and not by trolox. Our data indicate that antioxidants, apart from nonspecific redox or radical-quenching mechanisms, inhibit platelet activation also by specific interaction with target proteins. The results also show the importance of studying platelet activation under conditions of real blood flow in contact with reactive surfaces, e.g., using dynamic adhesion experiments.

Plasma proteome changes in cardiovascular disease patients: novel isoforms of apolipoprotein A1

BackgroundThe aim of this proteomic study was to look for changes taking place in plasma proteomes of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), unstable angina pectoris (UAP), and stable angina pectoris (SAP).MethodsDepleted plasma proteins were separated by 2D SDS-PAGE (pI 4-7), and proteomes were compared using Progenesis SameSpots statistical software. Proteins were identified by nanoLC-MS/MS. Proteins were quantified using commercial kits. Apolipoprotein A1 was studied using 1D and 2D SDS-PAGE, together with western blotting.ResultsReciprocal comparison revealed 46 unique, significantly different spots; proteins in 34 spots were successfully identified and corresponded to 38 different proteins. Discrete comparisons of patient groups showed 45, 41, and 8 significantly different spots when AMI, UAP, and SAP were compared with the control group. On the basis of our proteomic data, plasma levels of two of them, alpha-1 microglobulin and vitamin D-binding protein, were determined. The data, however, failed to prove the proteins to be suitable markers or risk factors in the studied groups. The plasma level and isoform representation of apolipoprotein A1 were also estimated. Using 1D and 2D SDS-PAGE, together with western blotting, we observed extra high-molecular weight apolipoprotein A1 fractions presented only in the patient groups, indicating that the novel high-molecular weight isoforms of apolipoprotein A1 may be potential new markers or possible risk factors of cardiovascular disease.ConclusionThe reported data show plasma proteome changes in patients with AMI, UAP, and SAP. We propose some apolipoprotein A1 fractions as a possible new disease-associated marker of cardiovascular disorders.

Molecular arrangement of adsorbed fibrinogen molecules characterized by specific monoclonal antibodies and a surface plasmon resonance sensor

Abstract The exploitation of surface plasmon resonance optical sensor for the study of the accessibility of distinct domains of immobilized fibrinogen molecules and the evaluation of the fibrinogen arrangement is reported. By investigation of the interactions of sensor surface-bound fibrinogen with various specific monoclonal antibodies it has been found that density, orientation, and accessibility of the individual fibrinogen domains of surface-bound fibrinogen depend on the concentration of fibrinogen in solution during the adsorption process. At low fibrinogen surface density the majority of molecules seem to be adsorbed side-on (lying on the surface). At high fibrinogen density the molecules are adsorbed end-on (standing on the surface). The experimental data suggest that the distal ends of the (adsorbed) fibrinogen molecule (containing polymerisation sites) are oriented anti-parallel to each other, proving off-axis location of the distal end domains.

The adhesion of blood platelets on fibrinogen surface: Comparison of two biochemical microplate assays

The biocompatibility of materials is frequently assessed by blood platelet adhesion, since platelet adhesion plays a considerable role in blood interaction with artificial surfaces. Blood platelets adhesion is an essential event in haemostatic and thrombotic processes. The aim of this study was to simultaneously compare simple biochemical assays widely used for evaluation of platelet static adhesion based on the determination of enzymatic activity of either lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) or acid phosphatase (ACP) in lysates of adhered platelets. Adhesion of platelets from platelet-rich plasma and washed platelets activated by either ADP or thrombin on surfaces covered with fibrinogen and well defined fibrin was studied. The results demonstrated that the amounts of adhered platelets estimated by the LDH method were significantly lower as compared with the amount obtained by ACP method. LDH but not ACP release from platelets during adhesion was shown to take place. It suggests that the LDH method should be used rather as an assay of platelet integrity. The ACP method is much more suitable for quantitative determination of platelet adhesion especially in the development and evaluation of haemocompatibility of new biomaterials.

Surface interactions of oxidized cellulose with fibrin(ogen) and blood platelets

Abstract Hemostatic effects of oxidized cellulose are well known but the mechanism of its action is far from being well understood. Hemostatic (hemostyptic) biomaterials with their ability to initiate or accelerate thrombus formation belong to surgical sealants. Thrombus formation is a surface phenomenon. The exploitation of surface plasmon resonance sensing principle for the examination of interactions of oxidized cellulose with fibrinogen, fibrin and blood platelets is reported. Cellulose decreased and slowed down the interaction of immobilized fibrin monomer with fibrinogen as observed by surface plasmon resonance. Only weak interactions of cellulose with plasma proteins albumin and fibrinogen were observed. Delayed gelation and slower increase in turbidity occurred in fibrinogen–thrombin solutions in the presence of the cellulose. Platelets in plasma but not washed platelets in a buffer were activated in the presence of cellulose. We suppose that activation of the coagulation contact system of blood plasma initiated very likely by the negatively charged surface of the oxidized cellulose leads to the fibrin formation and activation and adhesion of blood platelets. The direct interactions of platelets and fibrinogen with the cellulose seem to play a secondary role.

Plasma proteome changes associated with refractory cytopenia with multilineage dysplasia

BackgroundRefractory cytopenia with multilineage dysplasia (RCMD) is a subgroup of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), which belongs to oncohematological diseases, occurring particularly in elderly patients, and represents a heterogeneous group of bone marrow diseases. The goal of this study was to look for plasma proteins that changed quantitatively or qualitatively in RCMD patients.ResultsA total of 46 plasma samples were depleted, proteins were separated by 2D SDS-PAGE (pI 4-7), and proteomes were compared using Progenesis SameSpots statistical software. Proteins were identified by nanoLC-MS/MS. Sixty-one unique, significantly (p < 0.05, ANOVA) different spots were found; proteins in 59 spots were successfully identified and corresponded to 57 different proteins. Protein fragmentation was observed in several proteins: complement C4-A, complement C4-B, inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain H4, and endorepellin.ConclusionsThis study describes proteins, which change quantitatively or qualitatively in RCMD patients, and represents the first report on significant alterations in C4-A and C4-B complement proteins and ITIH4 fragments in patients with MDS-RCMD.

Two novel fibrinogen variants in the C-terminus of the Bβ-chain: fibrinogen Rokycany and fibrinogen Znojmo

Hereditary dysfibrinogenemia is a rare disorder wherein an inherited abnormality in fibrinogen structure may result in defective fibrin function and/or structure. Congenital hypofibrinogenemia is a rare autosomal bleeding disorder, either recessive or dominant, characterized by a low fibrinogen plasma level. A 28-year-old asymptomatic woman (fibrinogen Rokycany) and a 54-year-old man with thrombosis and pulmonary embolism (fibrinogen Znojmo) were investigated for a suspected fibrinogen mutation after abnormal coagulation tests results were obtained. DNA sequencing showed the heterozygous point mutation Bβ Asn351Lys in fibrinogen Rokycany and the heterozygous point mutation Bβ Arg237Ser in fibrinogen Znojmo, respectively. The kinetics of fibrinopeptide release was found to be normal in both cases. Fibrinolysis was impaired in the Znojmo variant. The average fibril diameters of Znojmo fibrin was slightly increased, but not differing significantly from normal; formed by less fibrils with abrupt fibril terminations. Rheological studies revealed a softer clot. Rokycany fibrin was formed by significantly narrower fibrils than normal fibrin; and the clot was denser than the control clot. Rheological studies revealed a stiffer clot. Impaired fibrinolysis and abnormal clot morphology may be the cause of thrombotic episodes in the patient with Znojmo mutation. New cases of hypofibrinogenemia and dysfibrinogenemia, found by routine coagulation testing, were genetically identified as a novel fibrinogen variants Bβ Asn351Lys (fibrinogen Rokycany) and Bβ Arg237Ser (fibrinogen Znojmo), respectively.